Key Takeaways

Crafting your favorite coffee creations at home is a great way to save time and money. Here you’ll find six simple recipes, detailing at-home basics for making the top cafe menu items from the comforts of your own kitchen - including a few cost comparisons from cafes throughout the country so you can see how much money you’re saving with each sip. 

• Vanilla Latte (hot and iced)
  
• Mocha 
  
• Caramel Macchiato
  
• Cold Brew (with foam) 
  
• Shaken Espresso (Brown Sugar Oat Milk) 
  
• Frappe

It’s been hip, trendy, tasty, and convenient to place a mobile order, pop in your favorite cafe, or swing through the drive thru for a morning staple or an afternoon pick me up for some time now. 

But many folks have calculated the cost of such consumption only to find that those daily treats have been taking a bigger toll than they realized on their bank account. 

To add, many of us have found these conveniences to be, well, not so convenient when you consider drive time, wait, etc. 

Then, with a little practice, many have also found their at-home coffee creations commonly top cafe selection tastes due to personal preferences, which can more easily be accommodated from the comforts of your very own kitchen. 

You see where we’re going with this one, don’t you? 

If you haven’t begun honing your at-home coffee craft, what are you waiting for? 

I’ll admit, I was a little intimidated to get started too, because frankly, my go-to cafe selections can be pretty specific, and the baristas just seem to hit the nail on the head every time. 

Of course, the first few times I attempted to recreate my faves at home, my mugs just didn’t measure up. 

But, as the saying goes “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” 

So, I did. And you can too!

In fact, now that I’ve got my at-home cafe replicas down to a science, it’s becoming harder and harder for me to enjoy a cup when I’m out. 

Pats myself on the shoulder, polishes knuckles, takes a bow, accepts applause…yep, you’ll be doing this too in no time! 

Working on your at-home coffee craft can be a calming, pleasant part of your morning/day - and, knowing you’re saving money as you sip - I’d say that's an excellent fringe benefit! 

So, follow along as we share some at-home, money-saving recipes today, focusing on those tasty cafe selections topping the charts all across the US. 

Oh, and be sure to check out the cost comparisons beneath each recipe as well, where we’ve calculated the costs for a 12-ounce selection of each featured beverage at a few cafes throughout the country. 

Let’s get started…

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6 Simple Recipes For Classic Cafe Favorites

1- Vanilla Latte

Vanilla is the most popular, even the most versatile, flavor when it comes to coffee add-ins. 

Even better, this recipe is super simple, even if you don’t care for vanilla! 

That’s right, when crafting this latte, you can swap flavors to your heart’s content. 

If you’re not feeling very vanilla on Monday, swap out vanilla syrup for caramel. 

Dreaming outside the box? Have a honey-lavender latte on Wednesday! 

My point? These at-home creations are aimed to provide you with cost-saving ways to make your favorite cafe selections on your own, and when it comes to lattes, the flavor component can easily be swapped. 

Of course, you can also opt for iced lattes at-home, so we’ll include a simple switch for this as well.

Ingredients

• 2 shots Lifeboost Espresso Coffee, or 4 ounces strongly brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee
  
• 6 ounces milk (your choice) 
  
• 2 tablespoons vanilla syrup 

Instructions

• Brew coffee (or pull espresso shots) and add to a mug. 
  
• Add milk to a glass jar and heat in the microwave for one minute. Test to see if the temperature is to your liking; continue heating in 15-30 second increments until desired temperature is reached. **You can also heat the milk in a small saucepan over low-medium heat until warm if you’d like to avoid using the microwave.  
  
• Add vanilla syrup to the milk, then froth using a handheld frother.
  
• Pour milk over the espresso/coffee in your mug and enjoy!
  

*For an iced vanilla latte: 

• Using the same ingredients from above, add ice to a tall glass, then top with brewed coffee/espresso. (It helps if you have time to allow the coffee to cool slightly before adding it to the ice.)
  
• Stir vanilla syrup into the coffee, then top with 6 ounces of milk. 
  
• Stir gently and enjoy! 

Vanilla latte cost comparisons across the US: 

• 12-ounce vanilla latte, Elevate Coffee in Chicago, IL… $5.75
  
• 12 ounce (tall) vanilla latte, Starbucks in Lexington, KY… $5.55
  
• Regular vanilla latte, Sippy Cafe in Brooklyn, NY… $5.75
  
• 12-ounce vanilla latte, Marketplace Cafe and Creperie in Salado, TX… $5.35
  
• 12-ounce (tall) vanilla latte, Starbucks in Seattle, WA… $5.45
  

2- Mocha

Rich, sweet, creamy…and delicious. Yep, that pretty much sums up a mocha!

And, believe it or not, this one’s not as complicated to make at home as you might think. 

Bonus - there’s just something about a mocha that makes your house smell amazing. Like a cozy candle and an incredibly decadent treat all in one. 

Don’t believe me, just ask a toddler. 

I used to sit for one of my professors in college, and each morning I’d arrive at around 6:30 am. 

Her apartment always smelled amazing. 

Once I asked her if she used a particular fragrance or candle, and she laughingly replied, “it’s just coffee…well, a mocha.” 

Later that morning when Isabelle awoke, I brought her out to their living room as usual, and that’s when it dawned on me - she’d always grin and say “I smell coffee,” as soon as she’d round the corner coming out of the hallway. 

So, take it from the two-year-old, mochas fill your home with happy fragrance and your tongue/mouth with decadent delight!

Ingredients

• 2 shots, or 3 ounces, Lifeboost Espresso Coffee
  
• 1 tablespoon cane sugar
  
• 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder, plus extra for garnish
  
• ½ cup milk 

Instructions

• Mix together cane sugar and cocoa powder in a small bowl and set aside. (This helps to keep the cocoa powder from clumping once incorporated.)
  
• Brew espresso into a small mug, then stir in the sugar/cocoa powder mixture until dissolved. 
  
• Add your choice of milk to an electric frother and froth on the heated setting. (You can also steam and froth the milk with the wand on your espresso machine.)
  
• Pour the heated/frothed or steamed milk onto the espresso-chocolate mixture and stir gently. 
  
• If desired, garnish with a dusting of cocoa powder, and enjoy! 

Mocha cost comparisons across the US: 

• 12-ounce mocha, Elevate Coffee in Chicago, IL… $5.65
  
• 12-ounce (tall) mocha, Starbucks in Lexington, KY… $5.25
  
• Regular mocha, Sippy Cafe in Brooklyn, NY… $5.75
  
• 12-ounce mocha, Marketplace Cafe and Creperie in Salado, TX… $5.35
  
• 12-ounce (tall) mocha, Starbucks in Seattle, WA… $4.95
  

3- Iced Caramel Macchiato

If you ask me, caramel belongs in coffee. It just does. 

According to my taste buds, these two are simply a match made in coffee heaven. 

And a caramel macchiato??

“Perfect balance of sweet and coffee.”

“Not too shabby.” 

“Rich and decadent.”

“Oooh, just delicious!”

Those quotes? 

Well, I didn’t want you to simply take my word alone regarding this fabulous flavor infusion, so I thought I’d share a few cafe caramel macchiato reviews. 

The best part about those yummy descriptions? You can create these tastes at home, just like the delicious latte and decadent mocha above! 

Ingredients

• 1-ounce Lifeboost Espresso Coffee (or 2-3 ounces Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee) 
  
• 6 ounces milk
  
• 2 teaspoons vanilla syrup
  
• Caramel sauce
  
• ice

Instructions

• Add vanilla syrup to a tall glass, then top with milk, ice, and espresso (in this order). 
  
• Drizzle with a desired amount of caramel sauce and enjoy!

Cost Comparisons across the US: 

• 12-ounce caramel macchiato, Cafe Urbano in Chicago, IL… $5.45
  
• 12-ounce (tall) caramel macchiato, Starbucks in Lexington, KY… $5.75
  
• Regular caramel macchiato, Tous Les Jours in Brooklyn, NY… $7.25
  
• 12-ounce caramel macchiato, Marketplace Cafe and Creperie in Salado, TX… $5.50
  
• 12-ounce (tall) caramel macchiato, Starbucks in Seattle, WA… $4.95
  

4- Cold Brew (with foam)

Cold brewed coffee has become a true classic, a less bitter, less acidic, smooth upgrade from a traditional iced coffee. 

And yes, you can certainly order a cold brew coffee as-is, but when it comes to cafe creations, cold foam on a cold brew is where it’s at! 

The thing is, it does take a bit more coffee than normal to make cold brew (compared to traditionally brewed and chilled java). And, cafes let you know about this in their cold brew pricing. 

We get it, it’s a needed increase. 

However, I don’t know if I’m just spoiled with Lifeboost Coffee’s inherent smoothness or perhaps I’m simply a cold brew snob at this point, but oftentimes when I order a cold brew at a cafe, it tastes far too much like ordinary iced coffee to me. 

And, for each of these reasons, I prefer at-home cold brew…especially when I want to add a foam topper! 

Here we’ll be adding a cold foam that’s been sweetened with a “plain” simple syrup, but feel free to use any flavored syrup you’d like to transform your cold brew and cold foam to your personal taste preference.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee (you can substitute any Lifeboost classic roast or flavored selection here)
  
• 3 tablespoons cold/chilled heavy whipping cream
  
• 2 tablespoons milk 
  
• 1 tablespoon simple syrup (or any flavored syrup)
  
• ice

Instructions

• Add ice to a tall glass, then top with cold brew. 
  
• Add heavy cream, milk, and simple syrup to a jar and froth with a handheld frother until smooth and foamy. 
  
• Pour frothed, sweetened foam on top of cold brew, and enjoy! 

Cost Comparisons across the US: 

• 12-ounce cold brew (without foam), Elevate Coffee in Chicago, IL… $4.90
  
• 12 ounce (tall) cold brew (with foam), Starbucks in Lexington, KY… $4.95
  
• Regular cold brew (without foam), Sippy Cafe in New York City, NY… $5.00
  
• 12-ounce cold brew (with foam), Marketplace Cafe and Creperie in Salado, TX… $6.25
  
• 12 ounce (tall) cold brew (with foam), Starbucks in Seattle, WA… $5.25
  

5- Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso

This may not be a staple at local cafes, but the Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso has topped the charts when it comes to cult-followings, fan-favorites, must-haves, go-tos, and all the other monikers for Starbucks’ patrons. 

Due to its popularity, some local cafe baristas have honed their craft in this shakable arena, allowing you to order off-menu for such a sampling. 

But, as we’ve seen today, you are the barista in your home, so let’s grab our metaphoric aprons again and whip up this tasty treat. 

Bonus: You will be making a homemade syrup to use in this recipe. If you love it, give it a try in the latte, macchiato, or even cold foam recipes listed above for a touch of variety. 

Ingredients 

• 2 shots Lifeboost Espresso Coffee or 4 ounces strongly brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee
  
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar syrup
  
• ½ cup oat milk
  
• Ice

Instructions

• Add espresso, brown sugar syrup, and about a handful of ice to a mason jar. Place the lid on securely, then shake until foamy. 
  
• Add a desired amount of ice to a tall glass, top with shaken espresso mixture, then cover with oat milk. Enjoy! 

Homemade Brown Sugar Syrup

• 1 cup brown sugar
  
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  
• 1 cup filtered water

Add brown sugar, cinnamon, and water to a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until boiling, stirring occasionally to make sure the sugar fully dissolves. 

Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Remove from heat, allow the mixture to cool, then transfer to a glass jar. 

Cover (keep airtight) and refrigerate for up to two weeks. 

Cost Comparisons across the US: 

• 12-ounce shaken espresso, Elevate Coffee in Chicago, IL… $4.50 (approximate from a menu builder, no other option available)
  
• 12 ounce (tall) shaken espresso, Starbucks in Lexington, KY… $5.95
  
• Regular shaken espresso, Sippy Cafe in New York City, NY… $8.00
  
• 12-ounce shaken espresso, Marketplace Cafe and Creperie in Salado, TX… $3.90 (approximate from a menu builder, no other option available) 
  
• 12 ounce (tall) shaken espresso, Starbucks in Seattle, WA… $5.95
  

6- Frappe

Frap, frappe, frappucino, coffee milkshake, blended coffee, frozen coffee…whatever you call it, whatever they call it…it’s delicious, and so easy to make at home! 

Hmmm, perhaps we could even call this one “have blender, will frappe?”

No? 

Okay then, let’s just get down to business. 

We’ll be making a classic coffee frappe in this one, but as we’ve mentioned in many of these recipes today, you can (once again) easily alter or enhance the flavor with the addition of a flavored syrup of your choosing. 

Lifeboost flavored coffees also make a great base for a simple frappe when you want added flavor without added calories. 

My personal favorite in this regard is our Smoky Butterscotch Coffee, though our Chocolate Covered Strawberry Coffee is delicious as a frappe as well. 

Hmmm, our French Vanilla Coffee would give you that classic cafe vanilla frappe flavor, and our Patriot Coffee would be absolutely amazing prepared in this manner too (Lifeboost Patriot Coffee: blueberries, raspberries, and white chocolate…yes, please!). 

Who am I kidding? We have such a wide variety of flavored coffee selections, so if flavored coffees are your jam, any of our selections would be fabulous as a frappe! 

Ingredients

• 4-6 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee 
  
• 2-4 ounces milk 
  
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar (if you’re using flavored coffee, I would swap this for regular cane sugar)
  
• 1 cup ice cubes
  
• Whipped cream, for topping

Instructions

• Add all ingredients (minus the whipped cream) to a blender, and blend on high until smooth. 
  
• Pour blended coffee/frappe into a tall glass, top with whipped cream, and enjoy! 

Cost Comparisons across the US: 

• 16-ounce frappe, Doppio Coffeehouse in Chicago, IL… $6.50
  
• 12-ounce (tall) frappe, Starbucks in Lexington, KY… $4.65
  
• Regular frappe, Tous Les Jours in New York City, NY… $9.00
  
• 12-ounce frappe, Marketplace Cafe and Creperie in Salado, TX… $6.70
  
• 12-ounce (tall) frappe, Starbucks in Seattle, WA… $5.25
  

Becky Livingston Vance Content writer

Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.